Annabeth reflected on her seeing dead Luke. It was gnawing her so much, she had to tell her friends when she got the chance. Piper called her over, to hang at an ice cream place.
"So," Piper smiled. "Guess what? We all should have a Girls Night Out!"
"Ohhh!" Hazel clapped her hands. "We could do makeovers, food, movies, and games!"
Thalia coughed. "I'm all in it - except for the makeovers."
Annabeth bit her lip. "Guys, did you ever see someone that was supposed to be dead?" Everyone looked at her, and Annabeth regretted saying anything.
"Sure," Hazel said slowly. "But what do you mean with that?"
"I saw Luke today," Annabeth blurted out. "Am I crazy, or have schizophrenia?"
Thalia opened her mouth. "You saw...Luke?"
"Yes - and I spoke to him. Percy said I just looked blank - I'm really scared." Annabeth felt good to let it all out, but judging by her friends faces, they still seemed shocked.
Hazel scooped a piece of ice cream, popped it into her mouth, then put the spoon down. "I don't have that much knowledge on Death, even though Pluto is my father. Could you tell me if Luke was a figment of your imagination?"
"Well...when I told him to leave, he disappeared - maybe it's just that I miss him."
Piper nodded on my logical reason. "You solved your own problem. Maybe it'll help when we all go to the spa!"
Thalia stood up. "I'll just quickly get another sundae."
"Another one?" Hazel laughed.
"Yep - I am hungry! You won't believe how much you get starved when you go hunting!"
Annabeth chuckled softly, then froze. Right in Thalia's spot was Bianca di Angelo.
"Hey, Annabeth." Bianca wore her floppy green hat, and smiled broadly. "Could I attend the 'Girls Night Out'?"
"Uhhhh...you're a ghost - not a figment of my imagination?" Annabeth's throat constricted.
"No, I'm just...a dream. Part of your daydream. How's Nico doing?"
"Fine," Annabeth managed. She could see Piper, Hazel, and Thalia chatting about something. "Bianca...could you talk to someone else? Like Nico?"
Bianca shook her head. "I can only talk to you, Annabeth?"
"Why me?" Annabeth asked.
"You're the reason why we are dead."